How do mantises bite?

[jetsky82]

I'm having a boring day at work today, and I've been looking at the little Blue flash I brought in who is sitting on my desk. So it got me thinking, how do mantises bite down hard enough to go through a beetle's exoskeleton? Is the main force applied from the top and bottom palate, similar to how a human jaw works?

I see on some of the close up pictures there are a number of appendage like things around their mouths, how do these help the mantis eat? Do they hold the food in the proper orientation? If bugs evolved these and they confer an evolutionary advantage, why didn't humans evolve little arms around their mouths?

Ok and a third question: why are blue flashes called blue flashes and not a particular species name? I've seen Sphodromantis sp. "Blue Flash" tossed around and yet I never see Parasphendale sp. "budwing" or Phyllocrania sp. "Ghost" or any others like that. Do we not have an accurate species name for these blue flashes?

 

[lancaster1313]

I can't be absolutely sure, but observation, and being bitten a couple of times, tells me it is the mandibles that do the damage. The mandibles appear to be covered by the labrum when they are not being used. They are in the sides of the mouth, you might be able to see them during eating, or even better when they open their mouths during a threat display.

The mantids also have 4 palps that can manipulate food. I have seen mantids eat and turn food around with out using their forelegs, I think that they use their palps for that.

I think that the mouthparts are similar to cockroaches and grasshoppers. You may be able to google up a diagram of insect's chewing mouthparts, that is what I did and got some good results, but for a grasshopper's mouth. I would post a link but I am terrible at that kind of thing.

 

[ismart]

The mandibles chew, and slice prey items from side to side. Not like us humans where we masticate up, and down. As mentioned above by Likebugs the palps help maneuver the food for chewing.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Great explanations, Likebugs and Ismart! Here's a link to a "visual aid" by the AES: http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/fact-files/mouthparts.html

 

[lancaster1313]

Great explanations, Likebugs and Ismart! Here's a link to a "visual aid" by the AES: http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/fact-files/mouthparts.html

Thanks Phil! I had a feeling you would post a link here. :lol:

 

[ismart]

Nice find Phil!

 

[jetsky82]

This was all very informative, thanks

 

[lancaster1313]

This was all very informative, thanks

No problem! I could discuss that kind of thing all day. :lol: